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South Africa’s Archbishop Desmond Tutu and his wife have laid criminal charges against one of their granddaughters.

Ziyanda Palesa Tutu, 30, has tweeted that she will be handing herself in.

Police in Cape Town confirmed they were investigating “malicious damage to property” in relation to the case.

“We are naturally distressed and deeply saddened,” a statement from the Nobel peace laureate’s foundation said, adding that the family hoped to soon put the incident behind them.

Ms Tutu, who is not a regular tweeter, said on the social platform on Tuesday morning: “We are waging war. Truths will be revealed.”

More than 12 hours later she posted: “I am regrouping but @TheDesmondTutu & granny Leah I will be handing myself in on Friday. # TututrialbyMedia.”

The 83-year-old retired archbishop and his wife Leah then issued a statement on Thursday saying: “We confirm that a criminal charge has been laid and that police are conducting an investigation.”

According to the Associated Press news agency, police said the case was opened last week, and indicated that it was Leah Tutu who filed the complaint.

“This office can confirm that a malicious damage to property case was opened for investigation by the complainant against her granddaughter,” it quoted police from the Western Cape province as saying.

Ms Tutu, who describes herself as “Desmond Tutu’s first grandchild” and a qualified wine judge on her Twitter profile, posted on Thursday that she was too emotional to give interviews but would talk when she was ready.

Her grandfather played an instrumental role in the struggle against apartheid, winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 for his efforts.- BBC.